Best Drawing Paper of 2026
* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Drawing paper is an essential item for any artist, whether they are a beginner or a professional. It comes in a variety of sizes and textures, allowing artists to choose the perfect paper for their specific needs. The most common types of drawing paper are smooth, medium, and rough, each providing a different surface for drawing. Drawing paper can be used with a variety of mediums, including pencils, charcoal, pastels, and ink. It is also available in different weights, ranging from lightweight for sketching to heavy for more detailed drawings. With so many options available, artists can find the perfect drawing paper to bring their creative visions to life.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Drawing Paper
PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets
PACON Drawing Paper is a high-quality drawing paper that comes in a pack of 500 sheets. Made of 100% sulphite, this pure white paper is perfect for watercolor, crayon, pencil, and charcoal. With its standard weight, it provides an ideal surface for all types of drawing and painting. The paper’s pure white color helps to make your artwork stand out. Whether you are a professional artist, a student, or just someone who enjoys drawing, PACON Drawing Paper is an excellent choice for all your artistic needs.
Colorations Heavyweight Manila Paper 50lb 9x12
The Colorations Manila Paper is designed with a sturdy 50 lb weight, giving you thick, durable sheets that hold up well during creative projects. Each pack contains 500 sheets, so you’ll have plenty of paper for all your drawing and sketching needs. This paper is made from tough fibers, meaning it can handle folding, curling, and scoring without tearing easily, making it ideal for both beginners and more advanced artists. Plus, it works well with a variety of media like crayons, charcoal, pencils, and tempera paints, so you can experiment with different art supplies without worry.
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets
Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium tooth paper that is perfect for all types of dry media. It has a great texture that makes it suitable for beginning drawing and sketching. The paper works well with crayon, charcoal, pencil, and tempera paint. With 500 sheets and measuring 9" x 12", this drawing paper is a great value. Additionally, it is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option.
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 is a lightweight, acid-free and recyclable paper that is perfect for beginning drawing and sketching. It measures 12" x 18" and includes 500 sheets. Its medium tooth makes it suitable for all types of dry media.
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is a high quality, standard weight paper that is perfect for artists of all levels. This paper accepts both dry and wet media, making it versatile for a variety of uses. Whether you're using markers, crayons, paints, or other mediums, the colors will pop against the extra crisp white of this paper. The exceptional body and strength of this heavy weight paper provides the ideal texture for all dry media renderings, and it erases well. With its durable construction, Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is the best value for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or right at home.
Strathmore 400 Series Smooth Drawing Pad 11x14
The Strathmore 400 Drawing Pad is designed to offer a smooth and durable surface ideal for a variety of drawing tools. Its micro-perforated pages make it easy for you to tear out sheets cleanly, which is perfect for sharing or displaying your work. The paper is strong enough to handle multiple erasures and adjustments, allowing you to refine your artwork without worrying about damage. Its smooth texture works well with graphite pencils, colored pencils, pens, and markers, giving you versatility in your creative projects.
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, Pack of 500
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is high quality standard weight paper suitable for dry and wet media, including tempera, watercolor, and ink. Its exceptional body and strength make it perfect for all dry media renderings and it erases well. The paper is compatible with markers, crayons, paints, and more, making it ideal for artists of all levels. In addition, its extra-white color enhances colored pencil, heavy black pencil, and charcoal drawings, making colors pop. The paper is a strong and durable option for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or home use.
Sax Manila Drawing Paper
Sax Drawing Paper is a popular choice for artists of all levels. This cream-colored, rough manila drawing paper is perfect for classroom projects and can be used with a variety of drawing media such as markers, crayons, pens, pastels, and paints. Its strong and durable construction ensures it can withstand heavy use, making it ideal for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or even at home. The warm cream hue adds a touch of elegance, making it suitable for both fun and refined uses like professional resumes and business letters. With a substantial ream of 500 sheets, Sax Drawing Paper provides excellent value and versatility.
BEIBOON 100 Sheets Kids Drawing Paper
BEIBOON Kids Drawing Paper is a fantastic bulk set of 100 sheets, each measuring 9 x 12 inches, perfect for your art projects at home or in school. The lightweight and high-quality paper works wonderfully with markers, crayons, pencils, and more, allowing you to explore your creativity freely. This versatile paper is suitable for both children and adults who love doodling and sketching. Its textured surface enhances your drawing experience, making it a great addition to classrooms or art classes, where imagination can flourish.
Pacon Drawing Paper, 6" x 9"
Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium weight, acid-free paper with a medium toothy surface, perfect for dry media. With its 6" x 9" size, it is ideal for smaller art projects. The medium weight provides a sturdy surface that won't buckle easily when using heavier media. The medium toothy surface provides enough texture to hold on to dry media, such as charcoal or pastel, while also allowing for smooth blending. The acid-free quality ensures that your artwork will not deteriorate over time, making it a great choice for long-lasting projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best paper for drawing?
Drawing paper is a heavier, and better-quality paper than sketching paper. It is commonly used for sketching and finished work. The ideal mediums used with drawing paper are graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, soft pastel, oil pastel, markers and pen and ink.
2. What is drawing paper called?
Cartridge Paper – Best for Dry Media The paper most commonly associated with drawing is cartridge paper. It is so-called because it was used in the making of paper cartridges in the sixteenth century, holding the ammunition of gunpowder and bullets together for loading into hand-held firearms.
3. What are the two types of drawing paper?
There are several different types of art paper surfaces including Hot Pressed/Satinata/Liscia, Cold Pressed/Not/Fina and Rough/Torchon/Grossa.
4. What is the best drawing paper for beginners?
Strathmore drawing paper pads are a favorite among numerous artists because the brand has a variety of sizes that are suitable for drawing in various dry media. Plus, Strathmore offers the best price-to-quality ratio — a key factor especially for beginners who want a lot of practice.
During our drawing paper research, we found 24 drawing paper products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 24,535 customer reviews through our big data system to write the drawing paper list. We found that most customers choose drawing paper with an average price of $19.02.
The drawing paper are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of drawing paper, including Pacon, Colorations, Sax, Strathmore, BEIBOON. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Ann Hale is a seamstress, pattern maker, and fashion designer with extensive sewing experience. She has worked in the fashion industry for over 10 years now after receiving Associates's Degree in fashion design in 2010. Also as a writer, she has many creative and unique insights when it comes to articles.
Drawing Paper Comparison Table
|
#TOP1
|
#TOP2
|
#TOP3
|
#TOP4
|
#TOP5
|
#TOP6
|
#TOP7
|
#TOP8
|
#TOP9
|
#TOP10
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Pacon | Colorations | Pacon | Pacon | Sax | Strathmore | Sax | Sax | BEIBOON | Pacon |
| Color | White | Manila Paper | Manila | White | Extra-White | Cream | Extra-White | Manila | white100P | White, Medium Weight |
| Material | Paper | Paper | Paper | Sulphite | Sulphite | Paper | Sulphite | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Sheet Size | 9 x 12 inches | 9-inchx12-inch | 9 x 12 inches | 12 x 18 inch | 9 x 12 Inches | 11 x 14 inch | 9 x 12 inches | 9 x 12 inches | 9 x 12 inches | 6x9 |
| Paper Finish | Watercolor | Smooth | Watercolor | Watercolor | Watercolor | Smooth | Watercolor | Smooth | Watercolor | Matte |
| Sheet Count | 500 | 500 | - | 500 | - | 24 | - | - | 100 | 500 |
| Paper Weight | 57 | 50 | - | 48 | - | 80 | - | - | 70 | 22 |
| Style | Standard Weight | Versatile | - | Lightweight | - | Versatile | - | - | plain | Music |
| Paper Dimensions | 9 x 12 inches | 9 x 12 inches | - | 12 x 18 inches | - | 11 x 14 inches | - | - | 9 x 12 inches | 6 x 9 inches |
| Unit Count | 500.0 Count | 500.0 Count | - | 1.0 Count | - | 1.0 Count | - | - | 100.0 Count | 500.0 Count |
| Item Weight | 5.78 Pounds | 5 pounds | - | 11 Pounds | - | 4.6 ounces | - | - | 0.41 Kilograms | 16 ounces |
| FTB Score |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Where to Buy |